Pressure fluid motor control



Aug. 19, 1952 T. E. MEAD PRESSURE FLUID MOTOR CONTROL Filed Oct. 17, 1947 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 A g- 19 195 T. E. MEAD 2,607,324

PRESSURE FLUID MOTOR CONTROL Filed Oct. 17, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I j 1 a /2 Jam;

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 rn'nss'uitn "F U D MOTOR 'ooN'rR'oL i -Thebd re-EQMaa,wuji ett m. Application October 17, 1947,!Serial No; 780,523

: Claims. (01. 121-164) This invention relates to-apressure fluid motor I control. The invention'is particularly useful in the controlling of the operation of a pistonequipped cylinder operated by a difierentialin pressure on'opposite sides of'the piston. For example, the invention'herein will be described in connection with a device operated by compressed air. f I i I An object of the invention is to provide timingcontrol means of novelcon'struction' for control'- ling the fiow of operating fluid to and Home "view in elevation of valve-actuatingmechanism embodying my invention; Fig. 4,'a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5, a detail sectional view, the section being taken as indicated -atline5of Fig.4.

In the illustration given in Fig. 1', I0 designates a support plate upon whichis mounted a single-acting powe'r'cylinder I The power'cyl- In. the mechanism I], I provide atbase .23 i having' a central plate 24 :extending upwardlyand terminating a cylindrical .bearing .25. On

.valve seat 28 valve casing 2-6. Any suitable form of valve chamber -'-may be provided, withvalves'co'operatingtherewith. In the illustration given, each valve casing 26: is provided with a passage 21 providing the valve seats 28 and 29. A valve 30, supporting resilient body 3|, is urged upwardly by spring 32 resting on a threaded nut 33in the lower portion of the passage. An upper valve 34 supports a resilient washer or sealing-body- 35'.

and is operated byplunger 36 extending upwardly and out of'thecasing 26. 'A sleeve'3'8 extends through the resilient washer 35 and abuts valve or head 34.

The lower end of the sleeve rests on inernber 3i The spring 32 is held in positio by-a threaded closure member 33. v j V The casing 261s provided with an'inlet fitting ll which has a passage communicating with the casing' passage 42 leading to the centratyalve passage. The"casin'g 26 is also provided'withan outlet fitting 43 leading'to the power cylinder. The passage of the fitting 43 communicates with the casing passage 44, which opens into the main casing passagebetween the'seats'ilil and 29. An

exhaust port 45 extends throughfthe casing; 26

at a point above the upper valve 34; Thus, when the valve stem or plunger is depressed, the'ilower valve 30 is opened whilethe upper valve 34is sealed and compressed airwp'asses through the fitting 4 l, passage 42, valve seat'29, and thence through the passage 44 out to the'work cylinder.

When the valve stem or plunger 36 is released, the lower spring 32 brings thelower valve 39 toits seat, while opening the upper valve '34. Thus, pressure fluid does not flow from the source any longer into thework cylinder and, instead. the pressure fluid within the cylinder flows back through the passage. 44 upwardly -.through,the V and. escapesthroughthe exhaust port45.

In operatinga single-acting cylinder H, as illustrated irrFig. 1, only one valvecasing 26 need be used because it is necessary to supply pressure fiuidonly to one end of the cylinder. In operate ing a; double-acting cylinder. as illustrated in Fig.2, the top fitting 43'of one valve casin 26 is connected to one end of the power cylinder, while the top fitting 43 of the other casing 26 is connected through a conduit'to the opposite end of the 'powercylinder. "In the event that the structure I! is usedwith a single-acting cylinder.

is:torpeaoperatednbothivalve casingsvZGZ are cona roller 49 hearing against the face of the track I 41. Received within the sleeve 48 is an inner tube 58 containing a compression spring 5|, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. The compression spring 5| urges the two sleeves or tubes and 50 in opposite directions. The upper sleeve 58 is provided with a roller 52 having a recess 53 adapted to engage a track 54 carried by a plate member 55. The are of the upperl'track 54 is much flatter than thatof, the lower track 41 and it is also shorter than the lower track. The plate -55 forms apart of a rocker-arm '56. The rockerarm 56 is U-shapedin design, having its central portion at the front apertured to receive arotatable shaft 551. The shaft 51 isrotatably mounted in the -beari-ng meiriber 25. A set screw 58 is provided for securing the arm 56 fixedly to the rotatable shaft 51. w Y

The rocker arm is provided with two spaced and laterally-extending arms 59, each of which lies above the plunger 36 of the valve below. Each of the arms 59 is'provided with an adjustment screw 68 whichhas a lower rounded point engaging the upper rounded end of the plunger 3B. Thus, by rotating thescrew 68, an accurate ad-jus'tment'c'f the arms'to the respective valve plungers-ean be made sotha't accurate adjustment-in the-opening of the valves can be effected. The lrollen carried. by the lower sleeve 48 extends laterally between the collars l3 and I4 of the piston rod I'Z'and also between the collars '2] and '22'o'f the piston rod 20, as shown more Clearly, in Figs. 1 and '2.

The arms '59 of 'the rocker member 56 are'no't enlyprovided with the adjustment screws 60 but :are also provided with laterally-extending screws "6!, which vri'iaintain the adjustment screws 50 :firmly in position after the desired adjustment -has b'eenmadegas'shown more clearly in Fig. '5.

It will be understood that the structure de- "scribed may be varied considerably'in detail. For example, the location of the spring 5i may be 'placedoutside'o f the telescoping tubes, 'and 'other 'clia'ngesmay be made in the respective plates '45 and '55. I'prefen'however, to support the spring 5?! between 'thet'wo t'elescopingtubes 4B and 50 becauseofthe effectiveness of this arrangement further, because this structure permits the ready removal of the telescoping arms fromthe structure when desired. "Further, I'preferto have theares, 'as illustrated, with a shallower are "for tfli'e'tra'cik 5 5 th'an'forthelower track 41. By providing 'a long track 4Tof relatively-shorterradius 'and a'shorter track 54-of relatively greater radius,

is provided in the 'opunusually efiective "action eration of 'tlie val-ves.

'I he casing members =26 are preferablyformed separately and rleasalily secured 'tdthe central :web 'or plate 24 oft the b'ase casing 23 "by means -of bolts 52. "Thus, the valve'ca'sin'gs ZB ma-y be 'xieadily r'emoved whe'n desired.

' Qper'lition Y In the operation 'of the structure shown :inJFi'g. -l, the collars 13 and 'M are car-ried byithe :piston rod l2 so as to move the roller l5 connected to sleeve 48 back and forth. As the lower sleeve 48 moves forwardly, it reaches a point where the upper sleeve 50 suddenly snaps to the rear, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Similarly, as the roller I5 is drawn in the other direction, the telescoping tubes 48 and 50 move toward each other until the upper sleeve moves in the opposite direction. As the upper sleeve moves in the opposite direction, the sleeve members expand under the infiuen'ceof the compression spring." In each of these actions, the rocker arm moves with great speed so as to quickly open one valve while closing the other. The valve opening and sealing operations are positive and the change occurs with such speed that the timing control is extremely efficient.

In the operation of the structure shown in Fig. 2, the"va;lwe casings on both sides of the plate 24 are connected, as heretofore described, to opposite ends of cylinder l 8,, and both valve plungers, are actuated for the control of fluid in its fiowto or from the respective ends of the .cylinder.

In the foregoing, operation, it will be noted that thelowerlsleeve 48 is fixed by reason .of engagement between the slot lthereof. vandthe lower track 41, while the upper sleeve 58 is rotatably mounted. Therotatable-character of the upper sleeve 50 takes care ofv any misalignment and, promotes efiicientoperation of the telescop ing" or sleeve arm. The actuating arm thus p'roV-ided'by the two telescoping tubes or sleeves, with'the spring therebetween, lisreadily actuated w by theshoulders on the piston rod, permitting relativelyilong movements of thesleeves until the upper sleeve movies to its opposite corner with lightning speed. The momentum of the upper arm as'it springs forward under the force of the spring thereof, operates therocker arm 56 with a corresponding, speed to bring about positive actuation of the valve stems or .plungers 36.

QWh'ile in the foregoing specification I have setforth specificstructures Singreat detail for .the purpose of illustrating single embodiments of my invention, it-willbeunderstood that such details ofstructure may be varied widely by those skilled in 'theart without departing from the spirit of my invention. 4

Iclaim:

.1. A valve structure of the character set forth for controlling a power cylinder, comprising a casing, a movablymounted valve in said casing. a rocker .member pivotally mounted on said casingand equipped .With 'an arm for actuating said valve, -on arcuate track member supported by said rocker, member, a fixed .arcuate track carried .by said casing, -a telescopic actuating member having its ends engaging .said tracks, and means adapted to be engaged by the piston 'rod of :said power cylinder for reciprocating said actuating member, said actuating-member consistingoftwo telescoping tubes with a compression spring therebetween.

;:2 A valve-structure-of the character setfforth for "controlling a pneumatic cylinder, comprising 'acasing,;a movablymounted valve in said casing equipped with a valve stem, a rocker member pivotally mounted upon said casing and having an arm adapted to :engagefsaid "valve :stem, said rocker member being provided with an arcuate track, afixed arcuate track carried by said. casing at f-a spaceddistance from the track-of said rockerlmember, a telescopic actuating arm hav ing iroller eguipped ends :spring. urged into ten? gagement-with said tracks, and means carried by said actuating arm adapted to be engaged by the piston rod of said pneumatic cylinder for moving said arm as said piston rod reciprocates.

3. A valve structure of the character set forth for controlling a pneumatic cylinder, comprising a casing, a stem-equipped and movably mounted valve in said casing, a rocker member mounted above said casing and equipped with an arm for engaging said valve stem, said rocker member being provided with an arcuate track, a fixed arcuate track carried by said casing below said rocker member track, a telescopic actuating member having its ends engaging said tracks, and

roller means carried by said actuating member and adapted to be engaged by the piston rod of said pneumatic cylinder.

4. A valve structure of the character set forth for controlling a pneumatic cylinder, comprising a casing, a stem-equipped and movably mounted valve in said casing, a rocker'member mounted above said casing and equipped with an arm for engaging said valve stem, said rocker member being provided with an arcuate track, a fixed arcuate track carried by said casing below said rocker member track, a hollow telescopic actuating member having a spring therein urging its ends into engagement with said tracks, and roller means carried by said actuating member and adapted to be engaged by the piston rod of said pneumatic cylinder, the radius of said rocker member track being greater than the radius of said fixed track.

5. In a valve structure of thecharacter set forth for controlling a pneumatic piston-equipped cylinder, a base member, a plate carried thereby, a pair of valve casing members secured to said plate, said valve casing members being provided with passages, a valve in each of said passages equipped with an upwardly extending stem, a rocker member rotatably mounted upon said p ate member and equipped with arms engaging the upper ends of said valve stems, an arcuate track member carried by said rocker member, a fixed arcuate track carried by said base member at a spaced distance therebelow, a telescopic actuating member having its ends engaging said tracks, and means adapted to be engaged by the piston rod of said cylinder for reciprocating said actuating member.

6. In a valve structure of the character set forth for controlling a pneumatic piston-equipped cylinder, 2. base member, a plate carried thereby, a pair of valve casing members secured to said plate, said valve casing members being provided with passages, a valve in each of said passages equipped with an upwardly extending valve stem, a rocker member rotatably mounted upon said plate member and equipped with arms engaging the upper ends of said valve stem, an arcuate track member carried by said rocker member, a

V fixed arcuate track carried by said base member at a spaced distance therebelow, a hollow telescoping actuating member having a spring therein urging its ends into engagement with said tracks, means adapted to be engaged by the piston rod of said cylinder for reciprocating said actuating member, and adjustment screws carried by said rocker arms and engaging the tops Of said valve stems.

7. The structure of claim 5, in which said actuating member consists of two telescoping tubes, the lower tube, engaging said fixed track, being slotted to receive said track, and the upper erally'and rearwardly extending arms engaging said valve stems, an inwardly arcuate track carried by said rocker member, a fixed inwardly arcuate track carried by said casing below said first track, said first-mentioned track having a flatter arc than said second-mentioned track, roller-equipped telescoping tubes extending between said tracks, and a spring member between said tubes and urging the same in opposite directions.

9. In a valve, structure, a casing equipped with a pair of passages extending vertically therein, valves in said passages, valve stems extending upwardly from said passages, springs urging said valve stems upwardly, a rocker member mounted centrally of said casing and equipped with lat- 'erally and rearwardly extending arms engaging said valve stems, an inwardly arcuate track carried by asid rocker member, a fixed inwardly arcuate track carried by said casing below said first track, said second-mentioned track being slightly longer and having a shorter radius of curvature than said first-mentioned track, rollerequipped telescoping tubes extending between said tracks, and a spring member between said tubes and urging the same in opposite directions, said tracks being provided with stops limiting the travel of said telescoping tubes.

10. In a valve structure, a casing equipped with a pair of passages extending vertically therein, valves in said passages, valve stems extending upwardly from said passages, springs urging said valve stems upwardly, a rocker member mounted centrally of said casing and equipped withlaterally and rearwardly extending arms engaging said valve stems, an inwardly arcuate THEODORE E. IVLE'AD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 1 Date 270,576 Blakeslee Jan. 16,1883 407,338 Downie July 23, 1889 958,492 Hardy May 17, 1910 1,573,541 Demand Feb. 16, 1926 1,921,092 Newton Aug. 8, 1933 2,240,163 Pick Apr. 29, 1941 2,302,232 MacNeil Nov. 17, 1942 2,391,996 Muller Jan. 1, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 167,870 Germany 1 Mar. 3, 1906 

